Automatic blow off



Filed Aug. 25, 1930 i. W M wl u a, E w I I, 3 I 1 a T 9 W 1 w 5 n? H v u? N: M M a l\ m I T 9 v 1| -mvvv a z m w 9 2 2 I M H Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES THEOPHILUS EALEY NEAL, F PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS AUTOMATIC BLOW OFF Application filed August 25, 1930.

This invention provides a device equally Well adapted for use as a blow ofi and a trap on lines which carry steam to relieve accumulation and provide a discharge for slush, scales and other foreign matter.

The invention provides a blow off which may be used wherever there is a tendency for a steam generator or any part connected thereto to clog and is automatic in action in clearing steam lines, boilers, and the like, of any accumulation tending to obstruct the normal functioning of such parts.

lVhile the drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be variedand changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawing hereto attached, which is a detail sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the drawing by like reference characters.

The body of the device is preferably of sectional formation and comprises upper and lower sections connected by pipes of determinate length. The upper section comprises a tubular portion 1 and a chambered portion 2 from which extends an outer flange 3. The lower section comprises a tubular portion 4 and a chambered portion 5 which are separated by means of a valve 6 and seat 7. An outlet 8 leads from the chambered portion 5 and an opening 9 is formed in the lower end of the section and is normally closed by means of a plug 10. An inlet 11 is formed in the side of the lower body section above the valve seat 7 through which it communicates with the chamber 5. A nipple 12 rises from and communicates with the inlet 11.- The valve seat 7 is passable through the opening 9 to be secured 1n place and the opening or bore thereof flares downwardly as shown. The

Serial No. 477,672.

valve 6 is also passable through the opening 9 and is adjustable on the lower end of a stem 13 which passes through the upper and lower sections comprising the body. A valve 'seat 14 is fitted to a flange projecting inwardly from the upper part of the tubular portion 1, Valves 15 and 16 are adjust-ably secured on the upper end portion of the stem 13 and are arranged to respectively engage the top and bottom of the valve seat 1 1.

A diaphragm 17 extends over the chamber in the upper end of the body section 2.and is confined between the flange 3 and a cover 18, the middle portion of which is deflected upwardly and is apertured to receive a bonnet 19. A screw 20 is threaded in the upper end of the bonnet 19 and engages a flanged plate 21 whereby to regulate the tension of an open coil spring 22 which is confined between the plate 21 and a companion plate 23 secured on the upper end of the stem 13, the middle portion of the diaphragm 17 being clamped between plates 241 which are secured on the upper end portion of the stem 13 below the plate 23. Upward movement of the middle portion of the diaphragm 17 compresses the spring 22 and lifts the stem 13 and the valves 6, 15, and 16, seating the valves 6 and 16 and unseating the valve 15. A T-fitting 25 has its side member fitted into an opening 26 formed in a side of the tubular portion 1. The upper end of the fitting 25 is secured in an opening 27 formed in the chambered portion 2 of the body. A pipe 28 connects the nipple 12 with the lower end of the fitting 25. A screen 29 is located within the fitting 25 and separates impurities from the water or other medium flowing through the said fitting. The screen 29 is of frusto conical form and is self-cleaning.

A lower guide for the valve stem 13 is provided by the top wall of the chamber 5, as shown at 50, and an upper guide is provided by a plate 51 in the tubular portion 1 immediately below the opening 26 and inclined so as to effect drainage toward said opening.

A valve mechanism controls the opening 27 and comprises a collar 30 forming an 6X tension of the fitting 25 andthreaded into the opening, a disc 31 adapted to close downwardly on the collar 30, a coil spring 32 normally holding the disc 31 seated, and a stem 33 receiving the spring 32 and disc 31 and passing through and guided by cross pieces provided within the collar 30. Pressure from below unseats the valve 31, thereby permitting the pressure fluid to flow into the chamber of the part 2 and deflect the middle por tion of the diaphragm 17 upwardly whereby to close the valve 6.

A thermal control connects the chamber of the parts 2 and the discharge chamber 5 and includes a pipe 34, a casing in the length of the pipe 34, and a thermostat 36 within the casing 35. A valve 37 connected to the lower element of the thermostat 36 is adapted to close an outlet in the bottom of the casing 35. When the thermostat 36 contracts, the valve 37 is unseated and there is permitted an outflow from the chamber 2 into the chamber of the part 5, thence through the outlet 8 or the opening 9 when the latter is utilized for such purpose. The pipe 34 connects an outlet of the upper chamber with an opening formed in the upper end of the chamber 5 of the lower section. A pipe 38 connects the tubular portion 1 with the tubular portion 4. The pipes 28, 34 and 38 may be of any determinate length, according to the application of the device, as the inlet 11 should be connected with the lowest point of the generator or other apparatus and the port 26 should be above the water level in the apparatus to which the device is connected. A flanged collar 39 is fitted to the lower end of the pipe 38 and a union connects the flanged collar with the part 4.

Assuming that the device is connected to a steam generator, the liquid level will be elow the level of the port 26 and will be the same as in the generator, and all the parts above the port 26 and plate 51 will be subjected to the same pressure as exists in the generator, water collecting in the lower portion of the device and steam or other heated vapors rising to the space beneath the diaphragm and exerting pressure thereon to lift the stem 13 and seat the valve 6. Heat will pass to the thermostat and cause expansion thereof to seat the valve 37. Should the in let become clogged for any reason, such as an accumulation of foreign matter, the flow of steam or other heated currents will be arrested and, consequently, there will be a drop in temperature, permitting the vapors under the diaphragm to condense and reduce the pressure on the diaphragm. The condensate will drain back into the body or into the casing 35, and the thermostat will contract so that the valve 37 will be opened and the condensate will flow into the chamber 5 and thence out through the discharge outlet 8 pressure is withdrawn, the spring at once expands and seats the valve 15 and unseats the valve 6. Opening of the valve 6 permits all slush, scales, or other foreign matter to pass out through the main discharge outlet. Some heat will rise from the discharging matter and will escape through the pipe 34 to the thermostat, which at once expands and closes the valve 37. As soon as the slush or other matter passes the nipple 12, some hot vapors will rise through the nipple to flow through the port and accumulate in the body section 1, while some will rise through the fitting 25 to reach the valve 31. V] hen the pressure is sufficient to overcome the tension of spring 32, the valve 31 will open and the hot vapors will enter below the diaphragm and eventually overcome the spring 22 and restore thc'normal conditions. The lag in the opening ofthedilferential check valve 31 permits the liquid that reaches the body section 1 to drain back through the port 26 and nipple 12, and also permits the inlet nd the immediately adjacent chamber to be thoroughly cleaned, although the action occurs within a few seconds. When the valve 31 opens, the pressure fluid promptly deflects the diaphragm upward and lifts the valve stem 13 so that the valve 15 is unseated, whereupon pressure fluid flows into the chamher 2 over the plate 51, through the valve seat 14 to act on the diaphragm and quickly seat the valves 6 and 16.

The valve 31 maintains a difference in pre sure between the up and lower sections of the body, the pressure in the upper section being the same as the pressure in the lower section minus the pressure exerted by the spring The more pressure exert-ed by the spring 32 when the slush discharge valve 6 is open, the longer will said valve stay open, as the steam, gas, or vapor pressure whicn enters the inlet 11 can then reach the diaphragm only by lifting the valve 31. When the inlet clogs, there is some pressure in the device which will remain for an appreciable period. The drop in temperature ensuing upon the clogging of the inlet is quickly felt by the sensitive thermostat, which opens and permits escape of pressure from under the diaphragm and, as the pressure escapes through the thermostat, some of the trapped pressure will pass through the valve 31 until the pressure against the valve is equal to the force exerted by the spring 32. As the valve 6 leaves its seat under the influence of the spring 22, the pressure remaining in the lower section of the body will help to start the movement of the slush through the bore of the valve seat 7.

The valve 15 serves as a stop for the opening travel of the discharge valve 6 by engaging the seat 14, and also thereby cuts ofi flow through said seat, whereupon the only path for pressure to reach the diaphragm is through the diilerential check valve 31. When the pressure admitted through the valve 31 begins to lift the diaphragm, the valve 15 will be raised from the seat 14, and, simultaneously, flow through the valve 31 will cease and will start through the'larger port of the valve seat l l and, as such flow will encounter and pass around the valve 16, the desired quick seating of the valves 16 and 6 will be efiected. The valve 16 being seated, flow to the diaphragm must again be through the valve 31, and the only escape for pressure fluid below the diaphragm is through the thermostatic valve 31, which will stay closed as long as the inlet passage .1s clear of slush, scale, or ther clogging material.

What is claimed is:

1. A blow 0E valve comprising a body having upper and lower chambers and an inlet and an outlet at different levels, an upwardly closing valve in the lower chamber intermediate the inlet and outlet, a diaphragm within the upper chamber and connected to said valve to eilect an opening and a. closing thereof, a connection between the upper and lower chambers of the body including a valve mechanism adapted to be unseated by pressure entering the inlet, a connection establishing communication between the upper cha nbcr at point below the diaphragm and e lower chamber adjacent the outlet, and a thermostatic valve in said connection,

2. A blow oil comprising a body having upper and lower chambers and having an inlet and an outlet in its lower portion, a valve intermediate the inlet and the outlet, a diaphragm in the upper chamber, upper and lower valves connected with the diaphragm and with the valve intermediate the inlet and outlet, a connection between the inlet and the upper chamber provided with a normally seated valve adapted to be unseated by an excess of pressure, a connection establishing communication between the upper chamber at a point below tne diaphragm and the lower chamber adjacent the outlet, and a thermostatic valve in said connect1on.

3. A blow off comprisin a body having upper and lower chambers and having an inlet and an outlet in its lower portion, a valve intermediate the inlet and the outlet, a connection between the upper and lower parts of the body provided in its upper portion with a valve seat, valves above and below the said seat connected with the valve intermediate the inlet and outlet, a. diaphragm in the upper chamber and connected with the beforementioned valve, a second connection between the inlet and upper chamber opening into the first-mentioned connection below the valve seat therein, a valve at the upper end of the second connection and controlling communication thereof with the upper chamber, a connection establishing communication beand an outlet associated with the lower chamher, a valve intermediate the inlet and outlet, a diaphragm within the upper chamber and connected with the valve provided between said inlet and outlet, valved connections between the upper and lower parts of the body, and a pipe connecting the'upper chamber with the lower chamber and provided with a thermostatic control including a housinghaving an outlet and a thermostat within the housing provided with a valve for controlling the outlet of said housing.

5. A blow oil comprising a body including upper and lower sections each havinga chamber and a tubular portion, the lower section having an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate valve, and the upper section having a valve seat within the tubular portion, connected valves closable on said seat, a diaphragm in the upper chamber and connected with the said valves, a T-fitting having its side member connected with the tubular por tion of the upper section and having its upper end connected with the upper chamber, a pipe connecting the lower end of the T-fitting with the inlet, and a valve closing the opening between the upper chamber and the T-fitting and adapted to be opened by an excess of pressure, and a pipe connecting the upper and lower chambers and provided with a thermostatically controlled valve.

6. A blow oil comprising a body having upper and lower chambers and having an inlet and an outlet associated with the lower chamber, and a valve intermediate the inlet and outlet, a diaphragm within the upper chamber, a cover extending over the diaphragm, a spring between the diaphragm and cover and normally exerting a downward pressure upon the diaphragm, means for regulating the tension of the spring, a, connection between the upper and lower chambers having an inner valve seat, valves within said connection above and below said seat, a stem connecting the valves with the valve intermediate the inlet and the outlet and connected to said diaphragm to be actuated thereby, a second connection between the upper chamber and inlet and in communication with the first mentioned connection below the valve seat thereof, a downwardly closing valve controlling communication between the upper chamber and the said second connection, and a pipe connecting the upper and lower chambers and including a thermostatically controlled valve for automatically regulating the flow therethro-ugh.

7. A blow oil comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet at its lower end, a dischargevalve controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, a diaphragm at the upper end of the body normally held raised by pressure below from hot fiuid entering the inlet, a. connection between the diaphragm and the dischargevalve wherebysaid valve is normally held-closed, a vent connection below the diaphragm communicating with the outlet of the body, and a thermostatic valve in said connection for relieving pressure under the diaphragm upon clogging at the inlet whereby the discharge valve will be opened and clogging matter may be discharged. 8. A blow off comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve between the inlet and the outlet normally preventing flow to the outlet, a diaphragm in the upper part of the body connected with the discharge valve and normally held raised by pressure from hot fluid entering the inlet, thermostatic means for relieving pressure under the diaphragm to effect opening of the discharge valve, a valve seat in the upper portion of the body, spaced valves connected with the diaphragm to engage opposite sides of said valve seat and control flow to the diaphragm, and a check valve at one side of said spaced valves to by-pass pressure to the diaphragm in timed relation to the spaced valves.

9. A blow off comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a discharge valve controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, pressure-responsive means in communication with the inlet for holding the discharge valve normally closed, a Vent passage leading from the pressure responsive means to the outlet, and thermostatic means in said passage for releasing the pressure-controlled means upon clogging of the inlet whereby the discharge valve will be opened and discharge of the clogging material mav be efiected.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature. V THEOPHILUS EALEY NEAL. [L. s.'] 

